2 charged, 2 more sought in theft of copper from home in Newburgh

Monday

Jul 21, 2014 at 7:00 AMJul 21, 2014 at 7:00 AM

Gittel Evangelist

TOWN OF NEWBURGH — Two men from New Windsor were arrested Sunday and charged with stealing copper from an abandoned home.Town of Newburgh police responded shortly before 4:30 p.m. to 10 Blueberry Lane, where neighbors reported seeing people inside the vacant home.Officer Taso Karabelas, who was first to arrive, observed someone slam the front door and go inside, said Sgt. Robert Desaye. Karabelas then saw several men flee the home, and gave chase “through a very heavily wooded, swampy area,” Desaye said. The officer called for backup, and police quickly apprehended two men, identified as Gabriel P. Toro, 19, and Ruben Robinson-Melvin, 22.Desaye said the home had been gutted of copper, with a large pile of metal just inside the open rear door and more inside a vehicle out back belonging to the men.Toro and Robinson-Melvin were charged with burglary and criminal mischief, both felonies. They were being held in police custody Sunday, pending arraignment.Police are seeking two other people in the burglary.gevangelist@th-record.com